After cab driver associations in Hyderabad have resumed their protest against the taxi aggregators Ola and Uber, the state minorities finance corporation has reportedly decided to implement a ‘driver empowerment programme’.

This scheme will provide cars to drivers who belong to minority sections of the society, with the help of the Uber cab services.

The programme aims at skill enhancement of drivers, assistance for placement and financial help for purchase of vehicles.

However, the Telangana Cab owners and Drivers’ Association is not happy with the scheme.

Opposing the scheme, the association leaders told The New Indian Express that earlier when the drivers had purchased vehicles through a finance company at high interest rates, they have been facing difficulty in paying back the amount.

The operators have been relatively giving more bookings to the new drivers, who have taken cars on the cab-leasing programme by Uber and Ola, the association told TNIE.

However, they also alleged that the company does not provide enough books to the cab owners who had already kept their car with them from the beginning.

“The car drivers have been increasing, but the number of customers are constant, due to which we are not getting enough bookings. Our income has come down drastically, and drivers who own cars are unable to even pay EMI on time,” Shiva Vulkundakar, president of the association, earlier told TNM.

Earlier Uber had entered into an agreement with Tata group to provide an opportunity to Uber drivers to purchase Indica and Indigo cars.

The scheme was launched in Hyderabad.

The scheme would provide flexible financing solutions from Tata Capital Financial Services and Tata Motors Finance, and insurance from Tata AIG to the drivers.